Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-07-07
drew herself I'm 70 her full heiont a


stately as queen. and there was thrill
in her tone that might have been of pain
had not the Indignation been stronger
as she answered: Sir, have no love
to give man who is disloyal to his
country, and count it an insult to be
wooed by one who is q traitor to his
King and she glanced at Asher's Con-
tinental uniform, as he stood before
her. tall and handsome. every inch a
= soldier and n true gentleman.
"'But, Mistress Mercy he began.
but she interrupted him:
=" 1t is useless for rs to discuss this
matter further. whatever my answer
might have been once, l have but one
decision now
Then, Mistress Mercy. said Asher.
gently and gravely; L have only this
to say, that such is my great love for
you, if You viii not be my wife, none
other ever shall be; and if You should
haply ever change your mind Gas ]
pray you may), remember shall al
ways be waiting; and whatever your
mind may be, remember chat while !
live You always have friend and pro-
tector in Asher Bradshaw And, lift
ing to his lips the fine white hand he
had taken in his. cold and trembling
slightly, he turned and walked out
through the oak hsil, and down the
Embroidered walk, with a mist dim
ming all the fair scene to his eyes; for
he was but a young man, and all the
love of his youth had been given to Mer.
cy Cuthbertson
80 Asher MAJ ched away with his
company to join Putnam. And the
hearts of the good folk of Stanberry
rose and sank with the fortunes of the
little patriot army. all save Major Cuth-
bertson, who remained bitter Tory.
and who would no doubt have had his
property contiscated but for the fact
that he died before the second year
of the war, and no one would trouble
Mrs Cuthbertson, though she held as
sacred duty to all her husbands be-
iefs. and read the prayers for the King
morning and night, and shut herself up
to mourn after each English defeat.
"How Mercy felt in the meantime
no one knew. The social life was all
broken up and political feeling held
the most of their old neighbors aloof.
It might have been her deep mourn
ing chat made her face look pale, but
many a woman's face grew pale and
grave in those long years. Now and
then, ut wide intervals, Asher Brad
shaw returned to Stanberry to collect
supplies, or recruit for the army; and
If he and Mercy CHANGED to meet,
their only recognition was formal
courtesy. However. IN seemingly
careless way, she managed to gather
from the hOusemaids whatever news
was current in the town. and sften. as
she listened to stories of the soldiers
suffering. her eyes grew wet; and
wonderful was the amount of flannel
and old linen Eunice Nlder, the house.
keeper. received at her hands. and
which, being an ardent patriot, she at
once dispatched to the army.
"Slowly but surely, with varying
fortunes, the war went on, and Tren-
ton was taken, and Burgoyne forced
to surrender, and the Cowpcns won.
And then, one day. there came post
to Stanberry that the battle of Eusaw
Springs had been fought, and among
the slain was Colonel Asher Bradshaw.
News travelled but slowly then, and it
was weeks before letter came that he
had not been killed, but only badly
wounded, and as soon As he was able
was coming home. And. in the mean
time, the joyful tidings came that
CORVALLIS had surrendered; and bells
rang ont, and bonfires blazed. and
every where the people gave thanks for
peace.
"And at last, one afternoon in late
autumn, Asher Bradshaw, riding slow
ly, for his wound was not yet fully
healed and his arm was still in
sling, rode down the familiar road.
and saw once more the loved meadows
and willow thickets that marked the
rivers course. But from the glad sight
of his own home-chimneys beyond. his
eyes came back to the red brick house
he was nearing. with its prim-bordered
walk, and tall rose trees now leadess
and bare; and glancing up at the win
dows with longing look, he sighed
that he caught no sight of the face he
would fsin have seen. But as he drew
nigh the gate, there was rustling of
the dry leaves. and behind the half
screening hedge a glimpse of a slender
figure, and he refined in his horse with
\ vague but tumultuous hope of he
hardly knew what.
ode was not mistaken. for Mercy
Cuthbertson was coming swiftly down
the walk, with her eyes shining. and
soft flush tinging her whole face, and
going straight up to him. where,
springing from his horse, he waited
her. held out her hand with the single
word uttered TREMENDOUSLY. and hardly